PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:

June 2, 2006
___________________

GENOCIDE MEMORIAL AND PARISH ANNIVERSARY FILL WEEKEND IN HOUSTON

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), was in Houston, TX, from April 21 to 23, 2006, to
commemorate the Genocide and mark the 25th anniversary of the consecration
of the St. Kevork Church.

The celebration-filled weekend began Friday with a service of repose for the
souls of Genocide victims. The ecumenical service included remarks from the
Rev. Dr. George Bithos, executive director of the Texas Conference of
Churches; Hubert Vo, Texas state representative; and Annise Parker, the
Houston City Controller.

Saturday morning the Primate met with students and teachers at the parish’s
thriving Armenian School.

“It was exciting to see so many young people learning the language and
customs of their heritage,” the Primate said. “Especially on this weekend,
when we mark the huge losses of the Armenian community, to see young people
carrying our culture forward, it fills one’s heart.”

Saturday evening the Primate blessed young choir members, ordained several
new tbirs, and ordained two sub-deacons: Jeff Burke and Vicken Asadourian.
The blessed choir members are: Sonique Visser, Corinna Visser, Sevan
Dekmezian, Sofia Mnjoyan, Karoun Charkoudian, and Talin Asadourian. The new
tbirs are: Shant Abrilian, Kevork Kasparian, Neena Aivazian, Nairi
Kasparian, Alec Ohanian, Vahe Ouzounian, Michael Kolandjian, Sassoun
Haroutunian, and Garine Abrilian.

On Sunday, more than 300 people filled the church as the Primate celebrated
the Divine Liturgy. During the service he ordained Jeff Burke as a deacon.

The service was followed by the blessing of a new statue of Gomidas
Vartabed. The faithful continued outside to the parish’s khatchkar, where a
requiem service was held in memory of the victims of the 1915 Armenian
Genocide.

The commemoration was followed by a celebration of hope, as the parish
marked its 25th anniversary with a banquet featuring a presentation by
Genocide scholar Sam Totten.

“The day commemorated a dark episode in history, but also illustrated the
sense of hope, the powerful faith, and the indestructible spirit of the
Armenian people,” Archbishop Barsamian said. “We must remember that the
true target of the Turks was the entire Armenian people. They contemplated
the destruction of a whole nation, and they came close to succeeding. Our
commemoration of the Genocide each year is our way of remembering that every
Armenian living in the world today has passed very close to death, through
the experience of a parent or grandparent, and through the experience of our
entire people.”

— 6/2/06